Method of treating textiles and apparatus therefor



8- 9, 1944*, H. o. KAUFFMANN 2,357,262

METHOD OF "TREATING TEXTILES AND APPARATU THEREFOR Filed May 9, 1941 INVENTOR ATTORNEYS Hans O. Kauffmcmn,

Patented Aug. 29, 1944 METHOD OF TREATING TEXTILES AND APPARATUS THEREFOR Hans 0. Kaufl'mann, Eggertsville, N. Y., assignor to Buffalo Electro-Chemical Company, Inc.,

Application May 9, 1941, Serial No. 392,718

Claims.

The present invention relates to a method of treating textile goods and particularly textile goods in rope form whereby the goods are subjected to a heated gaseous atmosphere at pressures equal to or higher than atmospheric and to an apparatus in which this method may be performed.

In certain textile treating operations it has been found advisable to treat textile goods with steam, or other heated gas at temperatures at orabove that of the boiling point of water. In a treating method and apparatus heretofore used, it has been .general practice to heat the goods with steam in an apparatus having free. communication with the atmosphere, thus making it difllcult to obtain high temperatures in the goods, especially temperatures above the boiling point of water. Those types of apparatus in which steam operations have been carried out at temperatures above the boiling point of water have been generally equipped with cumbersome liquid seals and it has been the general experience that such apparatus is very costly as initial equipment and is subject to serious mechanical disadvantages in operation. I

The most commonly used equipments in which super-atmospheric pressures and temperatures above 212 F. have been obtainable are closed equipment, such as kiers and pressure cookers,

and the like, in all of which, operations must be carried out in batches, as contrasted to a continuous operation.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a method of treating textile fibers, particularly in rope or chain form, with steam or other heated gases, at temperatures at or above that of boiling water and at pressures above atmospheric. It is another object of the invention to provide equipment in which it is possible to obtain temperatures at or above 212 F. and pressures at 'or above atmospheric and in which textile fibers in rope or chain form can be treated with heating medium in a continuous fashion. It is a further object of the invention to provide an apparatus wherein dampened goods themselves prcvide a seal at the feed and discharge ends of a steaming chamber. As the goods in the seal are sealedhot. the time of contact of the goods with the steam is considerably greater than the contact times heretofore provided for continuously steaming goods of this type. A further object of the invention is to provide a steaming method and apparatus which permits of regulating the time of heating the goods to treating temperature and maintaining them at treating temperature while still maintaining a high rate of passage of the goods through the treating apparatus.

The apparatus and method of the invention provide means of permitting an over-all heating time of considerable duration even when the goods travel at comparatively high rates of speed.

It is a further object of the invention to provideapparatus suitable for heating dampened goods at or above the temperature of boiling water in which liquid seals are avoided and in which the dampened goods provide the seal.

It is also an object of the invention to provide apparatus suitable for heating dampened goods at pressures above atmospheric in which liquid seals are avoided and in which the dampened goods provide the seal.

It is a furtherobject of theinvention to provide a method wherein dampened goods are continuously heated and evenness of results assured by reason of the fact that the heated dampened goods are passed through and surrounded by heating medium and are then repiled and repacked in bulk form.

In accordance with the present invention the goods padded with treating solution are continuously passed into and through a treating range of three zones; one, a feed zone; two, an intermediate heating zone; and three, a discharge zone. the range in any convenient fashion whereby the goods are packed therein to form a seal of dampened goods permitting a, slight pressure to be builtup in the range. Each portion of the goods in this seal is moved from one end to the other end of the seal, the seal being maintained by continuous addition of fresh goods. Where gravity is the force employed to induce movement of the damp goods within the feed end of the zone toward the heating zone, such continuous addition of goods induces movement of the piled goods,

of the seal to a point where they can be passed into and through the second zone of the range, namely, the intermediate heating or steaming zone proper. The goods are thereafter passed, into the third zone of the range, namely, the discharge zone, accumulating therein and substantially filling the same to form a substantially fluid tight seal. This seal is also maintained by continuous feed of goods thereto from the heating zone.

Heating of the goods is readily effected by introducing heating fluid, as, for instance, steam, at some point in the heating zone or at a point in the seal of piled up goods in the other zones The goods first pass into the first zone of whereby-a considerable, portion of the goods in said zone is heated and the intermediate zone filled with heating medium. Heating of goods in bulk is described in a copending application Serial suitable for carrying out the method of this invention, attention is directed to .the drawing appended hereto wherein suitable apparatus and equipment is illustrated in side elevation in Fig. l,

and wherein Fig. 2 is a section on line ii -II of Fig. 1.

Referring more particularly the drawing, the goods are guided by means of rolls H into saturating vat l2- filled with a. saturating solution l3.

After passing through the saturating.

' while therein by reason of their absorbed heat.

fluid, the excess of the fluid is expressed by means of squeeze rolls l4 until about 50% to 200% of saturating solution remains in the goods. The goods then are passed under guide roll l5, over guide roll iii to a conventional type of piler IT,

as, for instance, the well-known Perkins piler,

and are then piled in the first zone of the range.

It may be mentioned that the goods may be saturated either in open width or in rope form, but if saturated in open width, should be gathered into rope form prior to passage over piler l1,

whereby theyenter the range proper in rope form.

The complete treating range proper comprises an intermediate heating or steaming zone II, a. feed zone is and a discharge zone 20, all of which have fluid communication one with the other and with the atmosphere, except when filled with goods, when the open ends of zones i0 and 20 are "sealed with dampened goods, leaving heating zone l8, however, communicating with zones l9 and 20. In operation, the goods enter teed zone l9 from piler l1 continuously and at any convenient rate,,suchas the usualoperating rate of, say, 100 yards per minute, or any other desirable figure; depending on the type of goods, the type of impregnating solution, the temperature and pressure within zone It and the time of heating necessary to obtain the results desired. After entering feed zone IS, the goods are piled up within the zone and due to the continual'addition or goods to the zone pass downwardly to the bottom thereof to a preheating environment. In the specific apparatus illustrated, the fee zones comprise a conventional type of J-chute. The goods are in a packed condition in this J-chute and efiectively seal the same.

The goods, picked up from the feed zone or first J-chrte, are passed in extended rope form through the steamingzone where they are surrounded and pass through the heating medium. The heating fluid, for instance steam, may be discharged into zone I8 and onto the goods. As shown at 22, the inlet for heating fluid is positioned at a point in the travel of the goods at or beyond the point at which the packed goods form a seal in feed zone I9 by reason of the excess of As shown, this zone may comprise a conventional J-chute. The goods are then withdrawn from this second J and pass to other treating equipment, as, for instance, a washer, not shown.

As an example of the operation of the range when using conventional J-chutes having a crosssection of 4 feet by 2 feet as a feed zone, and

wherein thepacked goods are preheated to a depth of 20 feet in the feed zone, as shown at A, goods moving at the rate, for instance, of 100 yards. per minute will permit of 160 cubic feet of preheated goods in zone l9. If, forexample, one cubic foot holds approximately 15 pounds of damp goods, there is thus provided approximately 2400 pounds of preheated goods. Where the treated goods are such that 1 pound of the goods is 3 yards in length, there will be 7200 yards of preheated goods. At a passage rate of 100 yards per minute a contact time of '72 minutes is provided disregarding the time at which the goods remain heated in the discharge zone 20 and the steaming zone I! of the treating apparatus or range." However, considering the time the goods remain in discharge zone 20, the effective over-all heating time is more than double the calculated 72 minutes when the volume of the discharge zone is equivalent to the volume or the feed zone.

Thus, by permitting the goods to pile up in the entrance or feed zone I! and discharge zone 20,

' effective seals are provided against the escape of steam from steaming portion [8 of the appar'atus or range with complete utilization of the heat content'thereof. Of course, as the goods are withdrawn, a certain amount of heat is lost.

. As an example of a specific use of the apparatus, cotton goods may be bleached 'in very short periods of time. Aperoxide bleaching solution is placed in vat II, the goods saturated to the. de-

sired extent, as, for instance, with 50%\ to 200% of bleaching solution, based on the weight of goods, and the so padded goods piled into feed zon or J-chute IS. The packed goods are preheated before passage to intermediate zone II where they pass through steam insuring even finishing equipment, such 'as washers and the the goods piled and packed therein, although the like not shown.

The goods are evenly bleached by this treatment due to the fact that they arepartially treated in the feed zone, partially opened up and uniformly heated during passage through heating zone l8 and then repacked to finish the bleaching action.

In the specific form of the apparatus shown, intermediate heating zone I8 is vertically positioned adjacent the upper end of thesecond J-chute or discharge zone 20, .permitting'the provision of a common or touching wall 33 through which heat may be conducted to the interior of 'therethrough, means for piling and packing the zone 29. The intermediate zone is formed of reduced cross-section as compared with either the feed zone or discharge zone in order to confine the roped goods and to increase rigidity of construction. This is readily seen in Fig. 2. One or more pot eyes 34 may be provided in It for guiding the goods passing through this zone and to centrally locate them as they pass through the zone so that they are surrounded with heating medium. Where the apparatus is made of metal, as shown, it is recommended that it be covered with suitable insulating material 35 to avoid heat losses. I i

From the foregoing it will be seen that an apparatus is provided for heating dampened roped goods in a continuous manner and in a fashion insuring even and uniform heating due to the ing medium.

When operating with a chute of a given capacity, the heating period may be shortened, if desired, by packing the goods to only a portion of its capacity, provided, however, thatflsuflicient goods are present in the feed and discharge zones to form seals therein.

Although the invention has been illustrated as employing -J chutes, it will be understood that the invention is not confined thereto but is restricted only by the scope of the appended claims.

Wherever the term packing" is employed, it will be understood to mean piling the goods in a chute in such fashion that the goods comgoods in the chute to form a seal, an elongated heating chamber attached to said chute, an attachment on said chamber for introducing heating medium into the chamber, a second 'elongated chute having means at the discharge end thereof for retarding free passage of packed goods therethrough placed adjacent said heating chamber, the-ingress opening of said first chute and the egress opening of said second chute being open to the atmosphere, means for withdrawing goods from the first chute through the heating chamber in extended roped form and piling an'd packing the same in the second chute to form a seal, said heating chamber and-said second chute having fluid communication whereby heating medium discharging from the. heating chamber is directed to thesecond chute.

3. An apparatus for heating dampened textile for retarding free passage of packed goods therepletely fill the chute between the walls thereof and to sufi'icient depth to form an effective seal for the chute.

, What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for heating dampened textile goods in roped form which comprises an elongated chute having means at the discharge end thereof for retarding free passage of packed goods therethrough, means for piling and packing the goods in the chute to form a seal, a heating.

chamber attached to said chute, an attachment on said chamber for introducing heating medium into the chamber, a second elongated chute attached to said chamber having means at the discharge end thereof for retarding free passage of packed goods therethrough, the ingress opening of said first chute and the egress opening of goods in roped form which comprises an elongated chute having means at the discharge end thereof for retarding tree passage of packed goods through, the ingress opening of said first chute and the egress opening of said second chute being open to the atmosphere, means for withdrawing goods from the first chute through the heating chamber, in extended roped form and piling and packing the same in the second chute to form aseal, said heating chamber and said second chute being contiguous and having fiuid communication whereby heating medium discharging from the heating chamber is directed to the second chute.

4. A method for continuously heating damp-.

ened textile goods in roped form which comprises packing the unheated goods at one end of a heating zone to form a seal therefor, passing the goods in extended roped form through the heating zone and surrounding them during their passage with heating medium and then packing the goods at the other end of the heating zone to form a seal therefor whereby temperatures greater than 210 F. may be maintained in said heating zone and then withdrawing the goods from the seal at said other end of the heating zone at substantially the same rate at which they are packed at said one end thereof.

5. A method for continuously heating dampened textile goods in roped form which comprises packing the unheated goods into a chute to form a seal, moving the goods in extended roped form from this chute into a second chute and packing them therein to form a seal, introducing heating medium between the seals of goods in contact with the goods whereby heating is effected in a zone sealed by the two seals and withdrawing the goods from said second chute at substantially the same rate at which they are packed into the first chute.

substantially vertically positioned 

